Chief Petty Officer Jim Simpson, Commanding Officer at South Shields Sea Cadets, said: “We are delighted to have received this award, which is a testament to the hard work put in by our cadets and volunteers. They should all be very proud of this achievement.

“We help our cadets to understand the importance of being good citizens, and encourage them to give back to the community and to their unit.”

South Shields Sea Cadets is part of national charity Sea Cadets which works with 14,000 young people between 10 and 18.

The cadets aims to help young people to see the world with confidence, gained through the challenge of nautical adventure and a Royal Navy ethos.

South Shields Sea Cadets meets on Mondays and Fridays from 7pm to 9.30pm.